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McClairen's Isle #2
The Reckless One
Raine: The Reckless One
Raine Merrick's wild reckless spirit had earned him time in a French prison. When a mysterious beauty gains his freedom only to betray him, Raine Merrick sets out for his father's castle on McClairen's Isle, seeking the treasure hidden within. But strange surprises await him in the Highlands. He never expected to find his deceitful angel masquerading as an honored guest. Or to want her with all the searing passion in his sinner's soul.
Raine Merrick's wild reckless spirit had earned him time in a French prison. When a mysterious beauty gains his freedom only to betray him, Raine Merrick sets out for his father's castle on McClairen's Isle, seeking the treasure hidden within. But strange surprises await him in the Highlands. He never expected to find his deceitful angel masquerading as an honored guest. Or to want her with all the searing passion in his sinner's soul.
363 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 11, 2000
56 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Connie Brockway
60 books726 followersNew York Times and USAToday best selling author Connie Brockway has twice won the Romance Writers of America's Rita award for best historical romance as well as being an eight time finalist. After receiving a double major in art history and English from Macalester College, Connie entered grad school with an eye to acquiring her MFA in creative writing. Soon enough she jettisoned the idea of writing serious literature for what she considered (and still considers) the best gig in the world, writing romance.
Connie has received numerous starred reviews for her romances in Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal. Library Journal also named her Her 2004 romance, My Seduction, one of the year's top ten romances.
In November of 2011, THE OTHER GUY'S BRIDE (a sequel to the perennially popular AS YOU DESIRE) was Amazon's Montlake Publishing's launch title. Here next book, NO PLACE FOR A DAME will be published September, 2013. A regency set romance, it is also the sequel to ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.Today Connie lives in Minnesota with her husband David, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts.
Connie has received numerous starred reviews for her romances in Publisher's Weekly and Library Journal. Library Journal also named her Her 2004 romance, My Seduction, one of the year's top ten romances.
In November of 2011, THE OTHER GUY'S BRIDE (a sequel to the perennially popular AS YOU DESIRE) was Amazon's Montlake Publishing's launch title. Here next book, NO PLACE FOR A DAME will be published September, 2013. A regency set romance, it is also the sequel to ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.Today Connie lives in Minnesota with her husband David, a family physician, and two spoiled mutts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 14, 2012
As of late u will see that i've been reading lots of Romance type novels. Recently I saw one of my friends throwing out, lots of books, and i said "Whoa There" let me take a look.
She informed me I would not be interested, cuz they were just trashy romance novels, but i culled out the Historical Romance ones, cuz I love reading Historical novels. The remainder I donated to my local community college, which they later sold ALL of them , at a book sale. The moral of the story , Don't throw your books away, there is always someone who can benefit from them somehow.
OK BACK TO MY THOUGHTS HERE ON THIS NOVEL
I thought it to be an extremely good read, The historical aspects, detailed and accurate. As far as an Adventure, novel , better than most. Those who read romance novels, may be disappointed though, cuz there is not a whole lot of it here. Even some Mystery, and believable paronormal stuff here.....and a little witchcraft, all very well done. Im almost willing to give it 5 stars, but ITS A TRASHY ROMANCE NOVEL. (BUT I LOVED IT :) )
So as i've said in my other reviews, Don't judge a book by its cover, and now im convinced don't Judge a book, by the section of the bookstore that u find it in. Be brave, and consider books on the subject matter that you enjoy. And BTW, don't we all need a little romance in our lives once in awhile.
She informed me I would not be interested, cuz they were just trashy romance novels, but i culled out the Historical Romance ones, cuz I love reading Historical novels. The remainder I donated to my local community college, which they later sold ALL of them , at a book sale. The moral of the story , Don't throw your books away, there is always someone who can benefit from them somehow.
OK BACK TO MY THOUGHTS HERE ON THIS NOVEL
I thought it to be an extremely good read, The historical aspects, detailed and accurate. As far as an Adventure, novel , better than most. Those who read romance novels, may be disappointed though, cuz there is not a whole lot of it here. Even some Mystery, and believable paronormal stuff here.....and a little witchcraft, all very well done. Im almost willing to give it 5 stars, but ITS A TRASHY ROMANCE NOVEL. (BUT I LOVED IT :) )
So as i've said in my other reviews, Don't judge a book by its cover, and now im convinced don't Judge a book, by the section of the bookstore that u find it in. Be brave, and consider books on the subject matter that you enjoy. And BTW, don't we all need a little romance in our lives once in awhile.
December 10, 2023
Settling on two stars because.... it was just okay?
I think the only thing that worked in this novel was the hero. I adored Raine and think that Connie writes really great male leads, and even Favor wasn't THAT bad, but like the whole book felt a little jumbled and confusing. The first portion of the book, where she springs him from jail, didn't need to happen at all. It added nothing to the rest of the story for me. I think the premise of her trying to marry his dad for revenge but falling for him instead was good overall, but the way the author went about it was odd. It was so convoluted and weird, I literally felt dumb trying to keep all the wires straight in my head.
I loved the other two books I read from her, As You Desire and The Other Guy's Bride, but this fell so short for me. I only caught glimpses of the humor and banter she wrote so well in the other stories, the characters were flat and their emotions confusing, and so many other little things that made this hard to pick up at times. I'll try some of her other backlist books for sure, but I have a feeling with this author I'll just be chasing the high her first reads gave me.
I think the only thing that worked in this novel was the hero. I adored Raine and think that Connie writes really great male leads, and even Favor wasn't THAT bad, but like the whole book felt a little jumbled and confusing. The first portion of the book, where she springs him from jail, didn't need to happen at all. It added nothing to the rest of the story for me. I think the premise of her trying to marry his dad for revenge but falling for him instead was good overall, but the way the author went about it was odd. It was so convoluted and weird, I literally felt dumb trying to keep all the wires straight in my head.
I loved the other two books I read from her, As You Desire and The Other Guy's Bride, but this fell so short for me. I only caught glimpses of the humor and banter she wrote so well in the other stories, the characters were flat and their emotions confusing, and so many other little things that made this hard to pick up at times. I'll try some of her other backlist books for sure, but I have a feeling with this author I'll just be chasing the high her first reads gave me.
March 4, 2012
3.5 stars
This installment in the trilogy was much better than the first book, in my opinion. There wasn't as much blatant and gratuitous sex and heavy petting. The characters were well-drawn, and the "mystery" surrounding the story was well-done.
This book is about Raine Merrick, the second child of Janet McClairen and Randall Merrick, Earl of Carr. Carr didn't really like either of his boys, Ash or Raine; but he always petted and cossetted the youngest, a daughter named Fia. Raine apparently tried to emulate his father, but was constantly beaten and mocked; so Raine did anything he could to get his father's attention, including a lot of bad behavior. Because their mother admonished Ash to look after his brother, Ash did his best to get Raine out of any scrapes he got into, especially because Carr couldn't be bothered.
Carr is an Englishman who thought he fell in love with the Scottish Janet McClairen. Janet was wildly in love with Carr, and she convinced her uncle Ian, the laird of the McClairen clan to allow her to marry Carr. But Carr is selfish and self-centered to the bone; he wearied of living in Scotland under a Scottish laird. So when the Rising of '45 occurred, Carr quickly sold out his in-laws to Lord Cumberland - Butcher Billy. After murdering most of the McClairen clan who were avowed Jacobites or running the rest underground, Butcher Billy and King George granted Carr the McClairen title and lands, including the McClairen castle. Janet never believed that her husband was the traitor, but she realized it over time... and took her own action.
In the 1st book, we learn that Raine was accused of raping a young novitiate - one Merry McClairen. As a result of that accusation, the McClairens who were left were ready to hang Raine. But a young McClairen girl, Favor, clung to him, not allowing the McClairens to kill Raine. Her brothers had already been taken to the Tower in London, her father had gone to try to ransom them, and her mother was dying from a hemorrhage as a result of childbirth. Favor's mother begged her to stop the hanging; so she did in the only way that she could.
When Carr and Ash rode in with several English officers, it was just the excuse that Carr needed to crush the remaining members of the McClairen clan. Or so he thought.... And later, when Ash and Raine were taken hostage to ransom back to Carr, Carr laughed; so Ash and Raine were sold to the French, who decided to try again for a ransom from Carr. Carr did eventually ransom Ash, but not Raine. And as we learned in the 1st book, Ash set about trying to earn enough money to ransom Raine, even going so far as doing Carr's dirty work, for the right price. But at the end of book 1, when Ash goes to France, he discovers that Raine is gone - he'd escaped from the French prison.
It turns out that Raine was chosen by Madame Noir... a notorious French aristocrat with demanding and exotic tastes in men. Madame Noir had an arrangement with the French prison; for the right price, she'd choose a man and no questions asked. The men never returned.
Raine is so desperate to get out of the French prison that this time he draws Madame Noir's attention. But it turns out the woman who's taken him from the prison isn't really Madame Noir. She claims to be the Madame's niece and in need of an Englishman to play the part of her recently dead husband, who's inherited land and money in Scotland. Her husband made the arrangements for their passage from France to England, and she wants Raine to play her husband and get them all to England.
Except that it's a trap. At the last minute the woman, who told Raine her name is Favor, warns him. The last she sees of him, Raine is running from the French; she and her driver, Jamie, go in the other direction, where they meet up with an English ship and sail to England. Turns out, they needed an Englishman to play "La Bete" (the Beast), a notorious English pirate. The pirate is really Favor's brother, who is Thomas McClairen but goes by the name Thomas Donne. Thomas is the true laird to the McClairen fortune; but he's tied up with his piracy ventures, trying to earn enough money to buy back the McClairen lands and title. Carr has pretended that Thomas can do so; but when Thomas discovered Carr's treachery and plans to kill him, Thomas disappeared.
Favor has been groomed from the night of Raine's capture and the bloody murder of most of what was left of her clan to hate Carr and all his family. Favor was sent to France to a nunnery, where she was raised and educated to be a lady. But a kinswomen by the name of Muir has bloody vengeance in mind. She's set it up so that Carr will believe that Favor is now possessed/inhabited by his first wife, Janet McClairen. Even though Carr despised Janet at the end, Janet loved him fiercely and Muir is counting on Carr having loved Janet.
At McClairen's Isle at Wanton's Blush, the Carr castle of debauchery and gaming, Favor can hardly bear her task. But it's been drilled into her head for the last 10 years of her life that she's responsible for the destruction of her clan on that night so long ago. And Muir wants Favor to be in her debt - to get back the blood vengeance necessary and take back the McClairen name and lands by marrying Carr. Muir will then send Favor away and murder Carr; being his wife, Favor inherits the title and the lands under Scottish law.
The question is, how much does her brother Thomas know about Muir's plot? This isn't ever made clear, since we don't ever see Thomas in this book.
But Favor meets Raine again... he's recognized her as the girl who saved his life, and he realizes he owes Favor a debt of honor. The years in the French prison have toughened him - both in body and in mind. While he's attracted to Favor and would like nothing better than to throw her to the ground and have his way with her, Raine's debt of honor and his determination to become better than he was before have him torn in two. He tells Favor his name is Rafe and that he's looking for the lost McClairen Treasure -- jewels he saw his mother, Janet, hide in an Oriental box.
When Rafe/Raine saves Favor from the unwanted advances of a determined Englishman, Favor decides to trust Rafe/Raine somewhat. She's drawn to him, too, but she doesn't remember who he is. Favor brings food and clothing to Rafe/Raine, while he's in hiding. And when she's able, she helps with his search for the McClairen Treasure, even though she believes it's a myth or long ago sold by Carr.
Muir does her thing, though, and convinces Carr that Favor is the physical vessel his wife Janet is now inhabiting. Carr is obsessed with the idea that Janet's spirit might really have returned; he seems more than willing to court Favor and asks for her hand. Except Favor can't stand Carr, and she's fallen in love with Rafe/Raine.
What will Favor do and say when she realizes that Rafe is really Raine Merrick? Will she go thru with a marriage to Carr that she doesn't want? Will Carr discover Raine is at Wanton's Blush? And what will his sister, Fia, do when and if she discovers Raine?
==============
I enjoyed this book a lot. While the "adventure" and the story is so convoluted that it's tough to follow who's who from time to time, it was still entertaining. I really liked that, despite their mutual growing attraction, Favor and Rafe/Raine only kiss intensely until virtually the end of the book. It was a nice slow-burn... something to look forward to and savor, like Favor does, rather than get all hot-and-bothered about and then moan and groan in regret and remonstration for most of the book.
I almost didn't read book 2. But I'm glad that I did. And I will read book 3, Fia's story, to see how it all turns out!
This installment in the trilogy was much better than the first book, in my opinion. There wasn't as much blatant and gratuitous sex and heavy petting. The characters were well-drawn, and the "mystery" surrounding the story was well-done.
This book is about Raine Merrick, the second child of Janet McClairen and Randall Merrick, Earl of Carr. Carr didn't really like either of his boys, Ash or Raine; but he always petted and cossetted the youngest, a daughter named Fia. Raine apparently tried to emulate his father, but was constantly beaten and mocked; so Raine did anything he could to get his father's attention, including a lot of bad behavior. Because their mother admonished Ash to look after his brother, Ash did his best to get Raine out of any scrapes he got into, especially because Carr couldn't be bothered.
Carr is an Englishman who thought he fell in love with the Scottish Janet McClairen. Janet was wildly in love with Carr, and she convinced her uncle Ian, the laird of the McClairen clan to allow her to marry Carr. But Carr is selfish and self-centered to the bone; he wearied of living in Scotland under a Scottish laird. So when the Rising of '45 occurred, Carr quickly sold out his in-laws to Lord Cumberland - Butcher Billy. After murdering most of the McClairen clan who were avowed Jacobites or running the rest underground, Butcher Billy and King George granted Carr the McClairen title and lands, including the McClairen castle. Janet never believed that her husband was the traitor, but she realized it over time... and took her own action.
In the 1st book, we learn that Raine was accused of raping a young novitiate - one Merry McClairen. As a result of that accusation, the McClairens who were left were ready to hang Raine. But a young McClairen girl, Favor, clung to him, not allowing the McClairens to kill Raine. Her brothers had already been taken to the Tower in London, her father had gone to try to ransom them, and her mother was dying from a hemorrhage as a result of childbirth. Favor's mother begged her to stop the hanging; so she did in the only way that she could.
When Carr and Ash rode in with several English officers, it was just the excuse that Carr needed to crush the remaining members of the McClairen clan. Or so he thought.... And later, when Ash and Raine were taken hostage to ransom back to Carr, Carr laughed; so Ash and Raine were sold to the French, who decided to try again for a ransom from Carr. Carr did eventually ransom Ash, but not Raine. And as we learned in the 1st book, Ash set about trying to earn enough money to ransom Raine, even going so far as doing Carr's dirty work, for the right price. But at the end of book 1, when Ash goes to France, he discovers that Raine is gone - he'd escaped from the French prison.
It turns out that Raine was chosen by Madame Noir... a notorious French aristocrat with demanding and exotic tastes in men. Madame Noir had an arrangement with the French prison; for the right price, she'd choose a man and no questions asked. The men never returned.
Raine is so desperate to get out of the French prison that this time he draws Madame Noir's attention. But it turns out the woman who's taken him from the prison isn't really Madame Noir. She claims to be the Madame's niece and in need of an Englishman to play the part of her recently dead husband, who's inherited land and money in Scotland. Her husband made the arrangements for their passage from France to England, and she wants Raine to play her husband and get them all to England.
Except that it's a trap. At the last minute the woman, who told Raine her name is Favor, warns him. The last she sees of him, Raine is running from the French; she and her driver, Jamie, go in the other direction, where they meet up with an English ship and sail to England. Turns out, they needed an Englishman to play "La Bete" (the Beast), a notorious English pirate. The pirate is really Favor's brother, who is Thomas McClairen but goes by the name Thomas Donne. Thomas is the true laird to the McClairen fortune; but he's tied up with his piracy ventures, trying to earn enough money to buy back the McClairen lands and title. Carr has pretended that Thomas can do so; but when Thomas discovered Carr's treachery and plans to kill him, Thomas disappeared.
Favor has been groomed from the night of Raine's capture and the bloody murder of most of what was left of her clan to hate Carr and all his family. Favor was sent to France to a nunnery, where she was raised and educated to be a lady. But a kinswomen by the name of Muir has bloody vengeance in mind. She's set it up so that Carr will believe that Favor is now possessed/inhabited by his first wife, Janet McClairen. Even though Carr despised Janet at the end, Janet loved him fiercely and Muir is counting on Carr having loved Janet.
At McClairen's Isle at Wanton's Blush, the Carr castle of debauchery and gaming, Favor can hardly bear her task. But it's been drilled into her head for the last 10 years of her life that she's responsible for the destruction of her clan on that night so long ago. And Muir wants Favor to be in her debt - to get back the blood vengeance necessary and take back the McClairen name and lands by marrying Carr. Muir will then send Favor away and murder Carr; being his wife, Favor inherits the title and the lands under Scottish law.
The question is, how much does her brother Thomas know about Muir's plot? This isn't ever made clear, since we don't ever see Thomas in this book.
But Favor meets Raine again... he's recognized her as the girl who saved his life, and he realizes he owes Favor a debt of honor. The years in the French prison have toughened him - both in body and in mind. While he's attracted to Favor and would like nothing better than to throw her to the ground and have his way with her, Raine's debt of honor and his determination to become better than he was before have him torn in two. He tells Favor his name is Rafe and that he's looking for the lost McClairen Treasure -- jewels he saw his mother, Janet, hide in an Oriental box.
When Rafe/Raine saves Favor from the unwanted advances of a determined Englishman, Favor decides to trust Rafe/Raine somewhat. She's drawn to him, too, but she doesn't remember who he is. Favor brings food and clothing to Rafe/Raine, while he's in hiding. And when she's able, she helps with his search for the McClairen Treasure, even though she believes it's a myth or long ago sold by Carr.
Muir does her thing, though, and convinces Carr that Favor is the physical vessel his wife Janet is now inhabiting. Carr is obsessed with the idea that Janet's spirit might really have returned; he seems more than willing to court Favor and asks for her hand. Except Favor can't stand Carr, and she's fallen in love with Rafe/Raine.
What will Favor do and say when she realizes that Rafe is really Raine Merrick? Will she go thru with a marriage to Carr that she doesn't want? Will Carr discover Raine is at Wanton's Blush? And what will his sister, Fia, do when and if she discovers Raine?
==============
I enjoyed this book a lot. While the "adventure" and the story is so convoluted that it's tough to follow who's who from time to time, it was still entertaining. I really liked that, despite their mutual growing attraction, Favor and Rafe/Raine only kiss intensely until virtually the end of the book. It was a nice slow-burn... something to look forward to and savor, like Favor does, rather than get all hot-and-bothered about and then moan and groan in regret and remonstration for most of the book.
I almost didn't read book 2. But I'm glad that I did. And I will read book 3, Fia's story, to see how it all turns out!
January 18, 2014
I had a hard time rating this. It was really good, but not amazingly good. Really more of a 3.5 stars ... but no half stars, and it's better than good (which in my mind, "good" = 3 stars), so 4 stars.
Just as when I read McClairen's Isle: The Passionate One, I didn't like this much at first. It took me a while to get into it and start to care about the characters. I think that was more a function of where my head was at than of the quality of the book.
We meet Raine Merrick rotting away in jail, since his father is an evil asshole who won't pay the ransom to free him. Mystery woman trots up (we later learn this is Favor McClairen) and frees him with some complicated and really unbelievable shenanigans, but okay. Moving on. Raine doesn't recognize Favor right away, and Favor doesn't recognize Raine at all. But they have a history.
The McClairens were slaughtered by Lord Carr, Raine's father. A complicated tale ensues: teenage Raine falsely accused of rape (gotta say, some twinges there - can we NOT further this "women falsely cry rape" myth???), captured by McClairens, brought to some moldering fort to be hanged, but young Favor's dying mother asks her to stop the hanging, so Favor pulls a Pocahontas on him. While she's saving Raine, Carr's men ride up and proceed to slaughter. One crazy McClairen lady, Muira, lays ALL the blame for the slaughter on Favor's shoulders. Which is ridiculous. But okay. Over the next ten or so years, Favor is brainwashed, Muira slowly goes crazier and formulates a plot to gain back the McClairen stronghold, and Raine sits in prison.
Until Favor frees Raine from prison. They go separate ways, and cross paths again 6 months later at Wanton's Blush, Lord Carr's home (former McClairen stronghold) in Scotland. At this point, Raine learns Favors first name, and immediately realizes who she really is, but he doesn't tell her his name, since she's already said that she hates Raine Merrick. The deceptions make sense for most of the book, and I had no issues with their lies nor with their growing attraction. It all felt very organic. Until finally Favor tells Raine more of the truth (which he already knew) - it's at this point that he really needed to say "I was that boy you saved, I am Raine." But he doesn't. Things get more and more ridiculous from then, but I already had become very fond of the characters and their romance, so I carried on bravely.
Raine & Ash's younger sister Fia has been portrayed as such a cold-hearted psychopath, I cant' wait to see how a romance can be woven around her. For sure I'll be readingMcClairen's Isle: The Ravishing One.
Just as when I read McClairen's Isle: The Passionate One, I didn't like this much at first. It took me a while to get into it and start to care about the characters. I think that was more a function of where my head was at than of the quality of the book.
We meet Raine Merrick rotting away in jail, since his father is an evil asshole who won't pay the ransom to free him. Mystery woman trots up (we later learn this is Favor McClairen) and frees him with some complicated and really unbelievable shenanigans, but okay. Moving on. Raine doesn't recognize Favor right away, and Favor doesn't recognize Raine at all. But they have a history.
The McClairens were slaughtered by Lord Carr, Raine's father. A complicated tale ensues: teenage Raine falsely accused of rape (gotta say, some twinges there - can we NOT further this "women falsely cry rape" myth???), captured by McClairens, brought to some moldering fort to be hanged, but young Favor's dying mother asks her to stop the hanging, so Favor pulls a Pocahontas on him. While she's saving Raine, Carr's men ride up and proceed to slaughter. One crazy McClairen lady, Muira, lays ALL the blame for the slaughter on Favor's shoulders. Which is ridiculous. But okay. Over the next ten or so years, Favor is brainwashed, Muira slowly goes crazier and formulates a plot to gain back the McClairen stronghold, and Raine sits in prison.
Until Favor frees Raine from prison. They go separate ways, and cross paths again 6 months later at Wanton's Blush, Lord Carr's home (former McClairen stronghold) in Scotland. At this point, Raine learns Favors first name, and immediately realizes who she really is, but he doesn't tell her his name, since she's already said that she hates Raine Merrick. The deceptions make sense for most of the book, and I had no issues with their lies nor with their growing attraction. It all felt very organic. Until finally Favor tells Raine more of the truth (which he already knew) - it's at this point that he really needed to say "I was that boy you saved, I am Raine." But he doesn't. Things get more and more ridiculous from then, but I already had become very fond of the characters and their romance, so I carried on bravely.
Raine & Ash's younger sister Fia has been portrayed as such a cold-hearted psychopath, I cant' wait to see how a romance can be woven around her. For sure I'll be readingMcClairen's Isle: The Ravishing One.
July 19, 2019
This book started out really exciting with twists and turns and secrets and lies. Maybe some paranormal thrown in. I liked Raine/Rafe and early on Iiked Favor. Later, she lost some her independant tough personality.She was way too manipulated by Muira to make her marry Carr. Dye her hair and put drops in her eyes to look like the dead wife reincarnated! Raine's mother! Felt a little incestuous. I don't think Raine, he was actually Rafe thru much of the story, knew she was trying to be his mom, which also annoyed me! Secrets that are obvious!! There was no physical attraction between Favor and Carr so it really didn't seem like it was going to go anywhere. I think the author should have drummed up the ghost part more and made Carr go insane and die then the obvious happens. Raine is the heir, they marry and the land returns to Favor via marriage! I was annoyed that Raine didn't tell her who he really was and I was more surprised that she didn't recognize him. I mean they shared a traumatic event when they were younger, he knew who she was but she didn't remember him. It didn't add up for me, not believable.
I haven not read any of the others in the series, but there was enough back story for me to know what had happened previously. For those of you who like lots of romance and sexual activity...you have to wait a long time, like end of the book. The sexual chemistry was off and on,peaked sorta in the middle and finally they get together at the end. I would have liked to read what happened after the climax in the story, you know crazy people defeated, hero gets the girl. The story just ended with lots unanswered questions. I probably need to read Fia story, Book 3.
I haven not read any of the others in the series, but there was enough back story for me to know what had happened previously. For those of you who like lots of romance and sexual activity...you have to wait a long time, like end of the book. The sexual chemistry was off and on,peaked sorta in the middle and finally they get together at the end. I would have liked to read what happened after the climax in the story, you know crazy people defeated, hero gets the girl. The story just ended with lots unanswered questions. I probably need to read Fia story, Book 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2023
3.5 stars
February 19, 2021
2000 very good.
we have an advocate! gunna, maid to fia.
also an anti-advocate! muira, crazy head of the mclairen clan.
this book was skewed towards carr more than i liked in general, but it did totally add to the whole milieu. i was very satisfied by the amount of romance between them, built in small moments away from the world. i would have liked to see more chunky emotional moments where they really worked through some legit shit. but in the end, when the cards were down, they had no doubts where their loyalties truly lay (lie? lain? were laid?).
the theme of manipulation (carrying from the first book) continues but this time with our heroine, Favor! her past and future are manipulated by her clan for their own purposes. it all makes some sense in the telling, but i needed the apology we got at the end more than i realized.
the merrick son here is surely different from ashton. while ash played his father’s game of manipulation, raine absolutely refused to participate. he snuck back home and kept hidden. but as a merrick, he was unable to see a future that didn’t come from wanton’s blush, even while avoiding his father. the inevitable confrontation between them was immensely satisfying as was Favor’s involvement.
i appreciated the depiction of alcohol usage for our heroine in this book. that is to say, as a sign of mental unwellness and bad choices.
i couldn’t have been more tickled to spend afternoons falling in love while rummaging through boxes of stuff in the deserted wing of a castle. pretty excellent.
lots to unpack here but mostly i look to fia’s book for some serious merrick/mclairen closure. it’s all on her and thomas now, and i’m ready for some real highland justice and romance and closure for real.
themes: reputations, clan loyalty, family, false identities, baggage, treasure, favor, ghosts, deception/manipulation.
conflict: past v. future, purity v. love, marrying for life v marrying for death, clan v. heart, carr v. janet, carr v. muira, raine v. carr, fia v. carr, fia v. marriage — fascinating how much shit carr stirs, quite the plot generator.
things i want to remember:
let down with madame noir 😂, clan loyalty against loyalty to self, virgin decides to take control over losing her virginity, is tricked into marrying her lover, only has sex with her husband, castle burns down, powerful ending that is not necessarily full of closure and happiness.
we have an advocate! gunna, maid to fia.
also an anti-advocate! muira, crazy head of the mclairen clan.
this book was skewed towards carr more than i liked in general, but it did totally add to the whole milieu. i was very satisfied by the amount of romance between them, built in small moments away from the world. i would have liked to see more chunky emotional moments where they really worked through some legit shit. but in the end, when the cards were down, they had no doubts where their loyalties truly lay (lie? lain? were laid?).
the theme of manipulation (carrying from the first book) continues but this time with our heroine, Favor! her past and future are manipulated by her clan for their own purposes. it all makes some sense in the telling, but i needed the apology we got at the end more than i realized.
the merrick son here is surely different from ashton. while ash played his father’s game of manipulation, raine absolutely refused to participate. he snuck back home and kept hidden. but as a merrick, he was unable to see a future that didn’t come from wanton’s blush, even while avoiding his father. the inevitable confrontation between them was immensely satisfying as was Favor’s involvement.
i appreciated the depiction of alcohol usage for our heroine in this book. that is to say, as a sign of mental unwellness and bad choices.
i couldn’t have been more tickled to spend afternoons falling in love while rummaging through boxes of stuff in the deserted wing of a castle. pretty excellent.
lots to unpack here but mostly i look to fia’s book for some serious merrick/mclairen closure. it’s all on her and thomas now, and i’m ready for some real highland justice and romance and closure for real.
themes: reputations, clan loyalty, family, false identities, baggage, treasure, favor, ghosts, deception/manipulation.
conflict: past v. future, purity v. love, marrying for life v marrying for death, clan v. heart, carr v. janet, carr v. muira, raine v. carr, fia v. carr, fia v. marriage — fascinating how much shit carr stirs, quite the plot generator.
things i want to remember:
let down with madame noir 😂, clan loyalty against loyalty to self, virgin decides to take control over losing her virginity, is tricked into marrying her lover, only has sex with her husband, castle burns down, powerful ending that is not necessarily full of closure and happiness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2019
This series is a bit overwrought, with some mystical elements and angst, but there's enough fun in it that I stuck with it. This book is about the younger brother, a tortured soul, and the woman who rescues him.
October 10, 2020
O, to było ciekawe. Ciężar fabuły w całości niemal położony na intrydze jakby wyjętej z "Outlander", wątek miłosny jakby tylko przypadkiem się tam przewijał. Jedna z lepszych i lepiej napisanych z "różowej" serii.
July 29, 2019
A beautiful love story between Raine and Favor
I liked this book. It had drama mystery, suspense, murder and intrigue. A wonderful book which i read in one sitting
I liked this book. It had drama mystery, suspense, murder and intrigue. A wonderful book which i read in one sitting
July 27, 2021
I found it hard to believe that Ash just gave up looking for his brother. The sibling relationship was very disappointing. I have a suspicion about Gunna but I don't want to give anything away.
September 15, 2023
Standard but refreshing after a dark read!
September 22, 2023
The Reckless One by Connie Brockway was A Fun Read With An Intense Happy Ever After!
July 31, 2015
The Reckless One had some major character development flaws. It felt like listening to a great song, and every ten seconds a minion pops up and shouts "banana!" You're reading along and thinking "ok, this isn't a terrible book" then POOF, something pops up that makes you pause and pulls you out of the story. Little things that add up to be one major flaw.
Favor starts out in the novel as a strong willed, confident, and apparently talented con artist. You are led to believe she's faked a french accent, and she seems very intent on this plan. As the story progresses, the confident, talented woman transforms into a faltering, wimpy, wishy-washy young woman. Our hero, Raine, is written fairly decently, except little things that were commented upon in the first of this series are forgotten in the second. His brother, Ash, has wrist scars from shackles. Since Raine spent more time in prison than Ash, one would think he would as well. Yet not one comment is made about this. These little things pecked away at me, until by the end of the book I really couldn't muster enthusiasm for the character's finding love, much less truly believe it.
The story did hold it's interesting adventure moments. Since the first of this series felt stronger of a novel, it's worth-while to continue with the third. And I will even give it props for having a quote I found highlight worthy, very rare in historical romance novels.
Favor starts out in the novel as a strong willed, confident, and apparently talented con artist. You are led to believe she's faked a french accent, and she seems very intent on this plan. As the story progresses, the confident, talented woman transforms into a faltering, wimpy, wishy-washy young woman. Our hero, Raine, is written fairly decently, except little things that were commented upon in the first of this series are forgotten in the second. His brother, Ash, has wrist scars from shackles. Since Raine spent more time in prison than Ash, one would think he would as well. Yet not one comment is made about this. These little things pecked away at me, until by the end of the book I really couldn't muster enthusiasm for the character's finding love, much less truly believe it.
The story did hold it's interesting adventure moments. Since the first of this series felt stronger of a novel, it's worth-while to continue with the third. And I will even give it props for having a quote I found highlight worthy, very rare in historical romance novels.
May 24, 2014
As much as I liked this story, it wasn't quite as good as the first book.
I did like Raine, he didn't seem reckless to me and he was so young when he was imprisoned that I am not sure I really buy that he was the sexual master Ms. Brockway tries to portray him as.
Favor was a good heroine, but I didn't like that she was so easily guilted into going along with Muria's plan. And to be honest - it was a stupid plan.
Again, Lord Carr is a twisted, evil, totally vile character. And why were people calling him Your Grace? He is an earl not a duke. And Fia should be Lady Fia - not Miss Fia - sometimes she was Lady Fia and sometimes Miss Fia - personally, incorrect formal address is my biggest pet peeve in HR books.
I thought this book ended way too abruptly. I would have liked to see what happened after they left. I would have also liked to know what happened to Ash & Rhiannon.
In the end, I liked the book and would recommend it. I am not sure how I feel about Fia - hers is the last book, but I haven't really liked her character in the first two books. In this book she is 16 (going on 30) - she is so jaded, cynical and unlikable, that I don't know how she will be redeemed. Which makes me want to read it just to find out :)
I did like Raine, he didn't seem reckless to me and he was so young when he was imprisoned that I am not sure I really buy that he was the sexual master Ms. Brockway tries to portray him as.
Favor was a good heroine, but I didn't like that she was so easily guilted into going along with Muria's plan. And to be honest - it was a stupid plan.
Again, Lord Carr is a twisted, evil, totally vile character. And why were people calling him Your Grace? He is an earl not a duke. And Fia should be Lady Fia - not Miss Fia - sometimes she was Lady Fia and sometimes Miss Fia - personally, incorrect formal address is my biggest pet peeve in HR books.
I thought this book ended way too abruptly. I would have liked to see what happened after they left. I would have also liked to know what happened to Ash & Rhiannon.
In the end, I liked the book and would recommend it. I am not sure how I feel about Fia - hers is the last book, but I haven't really liked her character in the first two books. In this book she is 16 (going on 30) - she is so jaded, cynical and unlikable, that I don't know how she will be redeemed. Which makes me want to read it just to find out :)
January 21, 2014
I had already read the other two books in this series, and they have become pretty predictable by now. However, I did enjoy the book. The main fellow, Raine, is, as so often is the case, a ladies' man to the core. He even slept with a nun...give me a break! However, the back story of Raine and favor is quite endearing, so I couldn't help but like the fact that they got together. Muira became terribly annoying, so I was glad when she got what was coming to her. Carr is the typical obnoxious, cruel, evil fellow. There was a nice little surprise at the end of the book, and I liked how that worked out. If you don't get it, then read on to book number three, and you'll appreciate it even more. So...it's a good read. I liked number three the best, actually, so I'd suggest you read it so that you know better what is going on when you get to "The Ravishing One."
July 20, 2014
This is book 2 of the Merrick Siblings. I truly enjoyed this story. It made me laugh, was sad in parts and hopeful in others. Raine and Favor were great characters. Both strong and individually independent. I like this book more so than book 1. I love to buy trilogy books when the last book in the series comes out so I can read them back to back, as I did with this one.
July 4, 2009
I liked the first book better. Not sure what was different, could be that I stopped in the middle and mislayed the book then picked it up a few weeks later. Anyhow, Connie Brockway continues to remain on my Author TBR list. Will start book 3 as soon I as I finish a few others which are half read.
July 6, 2009
This is the second book in a series, and it is better than the first! It's interesting how the two characters lie to each other, but they know the reasoning behind it, and just let it go. No drama about it, they are reasonable people. very refreshing!
September 29, 2007
Pretty good. Raine Merrick and the girl (Favor McClairen) who had saved him from death as a kid – at the expense of her own clan.
September 25, 2009
Regency
July 18, 2011
Good storyline, characters, and fluff sections. Very enjoyable!
March 13, 2012
I just couldn't get into this book. Hard to review it because I just didn't enjoy it. Too predictable, too slow, nothing to make it stand on its own.
Boring!
Boring!
July 25, 2013
Rather overwrought, but I still enjoyed it.
September 20, 2013
really good
Read
January 6, 2021"my heart, graceless thing, did not ask my opinion. it loved without first seeking my counsel."
October 20, 2014
Loved it!
February 12, 2016
3 and 1/2 stars
June 5, 2016
I just...
Loved this as much as the first one. I'm going to get more of the series. This author will become one of my favorite authors.
Loved this as much as the first one. I'm going to get more of the series. This author will become one of my favorite authors.
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